Plastic container with plug-type plastic cover

ABSTRACT

This invention pertains to plastic pails closed by plug-type plastic covers such as that shown in my U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 122,303 filed Mar. 9, 1971. The pail and cover disclosed in the present application provide four modifications in which the tension developed in the annular top ring portion of the attached cover is used to retain mating inner and outer tongue and groove portions in a tightly sealed condition. In one embodiment the cover is molded so that in a relaxed condition it has a convex configuration while the container top rim lies in a common plane. In a second embodiment the cover is molded so that in its relaxed condition the top outer ring portion lies in a common plane while the mating rim portion of the container is molded in a convex condition. In a third embodiment the cover and container are molded each with outwardly extending tear-away rim portions which, after the cover is mounted, are sealed to each other to provide a hermetic seal of the container and contents. In yet another embodiment an inner sealing bead is made bifurcated so as to form two sealing ring portions when the cover is mounted on the container.

United States Patent [191 Heisler 1 June 18, 1974 [5 1 PLASTIC CONTAINERWITH PLUG-TYPE PLASTIC COVER [76] Inventor: Raymond A. Heisler, 657Dakota Trl., Franklin Lakes Township, NJ. 07417 [22] Filed: July 26,1972 [21] Appl. No.: 275,443

[52] US. Cl. 220/60 R, 220/54, 220/97 R [51] Int. Cl B65d 43/10 [58]Field of Search 220/42.59, 60.54, 97 R, 220/97 C; 215/40, 41; 150/05 56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,941,660 6/1960 Tupper 220/42 E3,205,677 9/1965 Stoner 220/97 C 3,596,694 8/1971 Jaeniche 220/60 R3,609,263 /1971 Clementi 220/60 R 3,642,167 2/1972 Kinney 220/60 R3,730,382 5/1973 Heisler 220/60 Primary Examiner-William I. PriceAssistant Examiner-Joseph Man-Fu Moy Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Ralph R.Roberts ABSTRACT This invention pertains to plastic pails closed byplugtype plastic covers such as that shown in my US. Pat. applicationSer. No. 122,303 filed Mar. 9, 1971. The

pail and cover disclosed in the present application one embodiment thecover is molded so that in a relaxed condition it has a convexconfiguration while the container top rim lies in a common plane. In asecond embodiment the cover is molded so that in its relaxed conditionthe top outer ring portion lies in a common plane while the mating rimportion of the container is molded in a convex condition. In a thirdembodiment the cover and container are molded each with outwardlyextending tear-away rim portions which, after the cover is mounted, aresealed to each other to provide a hermetic seal of the container andcontents. In yet another embodiment an inner sealing bead is madebifurcated so as to form two sealing ring portions when the cover ismounted on the container.

12 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures PLASTIC CONTAINER WITH PLUG-TYPE I PLASTICCOVER CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention With reference to the classificationof art as established in the U.S. Patent Office this invention pertainsto the general class entitled, Bottles and Jars and the subclass ofClosures elastic. Also pertinent is the general class entitled, MetallicReceptacles and the subclasses of closures slip type and closuresintegral with closure or receptacle-snapping. Also pertinent is thegeneral class entitled, Cloth, Leather and Rubber Receptacles and thesubclass of miscellaneous."

2. Description of the Prior Art Plastic containers including taperedpails for paint, food-stuffs and the like are well known but insofar asis known, it is novel to provide a container and cover wherein thecontainer has a top rim portion which has both an inner circular beadand an outer bead or lip which are precisely sized to snugly retain agrooved plug-type cover. The cover is also precisely sized andwhenmounted, the cover is stretched to cause a tension to be developedin the cover rim between inner and outer retaining lip portions. Plasticcontainers using a flexible cover are well known and among those to beparticularly noted with reference to this invention is U.S. Pat. No.2,859,786 to TUPPER as issued on Nov. 11, 1958; U.S. Pat. No. 2,833,324to BUR- ROUGHS as issued on May 6, 1958; U.S. Pat. No. 3,335,774 to REEDas issued on Aug. 15, 1967 and US. Pat. No. 3,618,802 to YATES, Jr. asissued on Nov. 9, 1971.

Plastic containers, particularly those used to package and storeprepared foods such as margarine, have flexible covers but usually usean adhesive seal to maintain a hermetic or vacuum seal. Many attemptshave been made to provide a plastic container for use in the packagingof paint, particularly in a one-gallon container. In such a container,because of the weight of the contents,

it is essential that the pail and cover have sealing and retainingabilities at least equal to, if not superior to, a metal container witha double tight cover. Blowmolded plastic containers are, of course, wellknown but in general when they are to be sealed they are closed by ascrew-type cover. In the present invention in addition to the ease ofclosing and sealing the open end of the container by a cover alsorequires that the cover provide a positive seal and retention during itsshipment and storage. This cover is also easily removable by thecustomer and may also be easily replaced for resealing the container.

This present invention pertains to a plastic container which has anupper rim which is engaged and closed by a plug-type cover which engagesthe container rim at both inwardly and outwardly directed shoulders bygrooves formed in the cover to prevent accidental dis- 2 lodgment bysudden application of pressure against the cover.

Steel pails, when filled with paint and the like and closed conventionalcovers, usually fail to withstand a drop test of three feet or less. Thecontainer of this invention has successfully withstood drops of three tofour feet even when the drop has been on the side or on the cover comer.Containers and closures such as are shown in the REED U.S. Pat. No.(3,335,774) above-identified or the YATES U.S. Pat. No. (3,618,802) donot retain their hermetic seal, if they ever had one, when subject tosmall drops or tipping on their sides.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION gaged by a cover having a recess for aninterference fit with this lip. The cover has an outwardly extendingflange portion terminating with a downturned annular rim disposed tosnugly engage the outer portion of the rim of the container and providea tension in the cover disposed to retain the cover in its snuglyengaged interference fit condition with the inwardly extending lip ofthe container. The lid also is contoured to provide a plug fit andadditional fluid seal at a lower portion of the open top of thecontainer.

It is a further object of this invention to provide, and

it does provide, a tapered container disposed to be nested within eachother with the outer rim portions engaging each other to prevent alocking together of the nested containers, said container and coverproviding a pry slot disposed between the botton edge of a downturnedannular rim of the cover which snugly engages the outer portion of therim of the container and a shoulder fomied on an outer portion of theannular rim of the container.

The plastic pail of the invention, like that in U.S. Pat. Ser. No.122,303 above-referenced, is contemplated as being of approximately onegallon in capacity but larger and smaller may be furnished. In themolding of these pails having-a capacity of 1 gallon a high densityplastic such as polypropylene or polyethylene in a thickness of aboutforty-thousandths of an inch is contemplated as being used. The moldedpails or containers are made with a tapered configuration with the upperlarger end of the container having a channelshaped rim which extendsoutwardly then downwardly from the upper end of the container side wall.The rim is stiffened by a plurality of small ribs extending from theouter rim portion to the sidewall. The upper rim of the container issized so that as the containers are seated one on top of the other, thesidewalls of the nested containers remain in a spaced conditionpermitting ready disassembly of the containers one from the other asthey are unstacked for filling.

The open top of the container is provided with an in wardly directedretaining ledge which engages a molded notch or groove formed in the.cover. This cover has an outwardly extending rim which terminates at adownturned annular flange which snugly slides over and engages anannular rim provided on the molded container. The termination of thisrim provides a pry shoulder spaced from a ring-like molded projection onthe outer rim of the container so that the mounted cover may be urgedfrom the container by a pry means.

In all embodiments shown the inward ledge of the container rim or top issized so as to be a slide fit with a lower retaining ledge providing thelower shoulder of an inner retaining groove formed in the cover. Theoutward upper edge of the container top is formed with an outwardlyextending bead adapted to engage and retain a groove provided in theinner face of the downwardly turned outer flange of the cover. With thecover in an unmounted or relaxed state this groove in the outer flangeis a small amount less diameter than is the outer mating diameter beadprovided on the rim of the container. As the cover is brought to amounted condition in and onto the rim of the container a ring portion ofthe cover is required to be stretched outwardly to slide over and engagethis outer bead. As this is occurring the inner retaining groove in thecover is moved into a tight engagement with the inner retaining ledge ofthe tip rim of the container.

It is therefore a still further object of this invention to provide, andit does provide, a container having an upper rim with both an inner andan outer bead and a complementarily formed cover having inner and outergrooves and with a ring portion extending between the groove portions.This ring portion is stretched a small amount when the grooves of thecover are mounted on the inner and outer bead portions of the container.

In addition to the above summary, the following disclosure is detailedto insure adequacy and aid in the understanding of the invention. Thisdisclosure, however, is not intended to prejudice that purpose of apatent which is to cover each new inventive concept therein no matterhow it may later be disguised by variations in form or addition. Forthis reason there is shown the specific embodiment of the molded pail orcontainer of US. Pat. Ser. No. l22,303 and the plug-type cover asadopted for use with this pail. This embodiment and the four alternateembodiments thereof have been chosen for the purposes of illustrationand description as shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 represents a fragmentarysectional side view of the assembly of a container and cover in whichthe top shoulder surface of the container lies in a flat planesubstantially at right angles to the axis of the container and themating ring-like tension portion of the cover in a relaxed and mountedcondition is also formed to lie in a common plane;

FIG. 2 represents a fragmentary sectional side view of the cover andcontainer of FIG. 1 and showing in particular the relationship of thecover to the container in the initial assembly step of mounting thecover in the open top of the container;

FIG. 3 represents a fragmentary sectional side view showing a pair ofthe covers of FIG. 1 in a stacked condition preparatory to beingseparated for mounting on a container;

FIG. 4 represents a fragmentary sectional side view of an alternatecover and container preparatory to the mounting of the cover on thecontainer, this container having its top rim conically shaped to presenta downwardly and inwardly directed surface tapering toward the bottom ofthe container, the cover having its mating ring-like tension portionformed so as to lie in a common plane when in a relaxed condition;

FIG. 5 represents a fragmentary sectional side view of the cover andcontainer of FIG. 4 with the cover disposed in an initial mounting stageor operation;

FIG. 6 represents a fragmentary sectional side view of the assembly ofthe container and cover of FIG. 4 with the cover now disposed in a fullymounted condition on the container;

FIG. 7 represents a fragmentary sectional side view of yet anotheralternate configuration of a container and cover in a preparatory orpreliminary condition to the mounting of the cover to the container,this container having a generally horizontal top rim like the rim ofFIG. 1 and with the cover having its outer ring-like tensioning memberformed in a conical shape tapering upwardly and inwardly toward an apexaway from the bottom of the container;

FIG. 8 represents a fragmentary sectional side view of the cover andcontainer of FIG. 7 with the cover in its initially mounted conditionprior to being mounted in its final condition;

FIG. 9 represents a fragmentary sectional side view of the cover andcontainer of FIG. 7 with the cover mounted to provide a sealedcondition;

FIG. 10 represents a fragmentary sectional side view of a container andcover similar to that of FIG. 1 but with the inner bead or lip of thecontainer made with a bifurcated configuration;

FIG. 11 represents an enlarged fragmentary sectional side view showingthe detail of the prepared configuration of the bifurcated inner bead ofFIG. 10; FIG. 12 represents a fragmentary sectional side view showingthe container and cover of FIG. 10 with the cover in the initial step ofmounting on the container;

FIG. 13 represents in an enlarged scale a fragmentary sectional sideview of the mounted cover and container of FIG. 12 and showing thebifurcated bead in a sealing condition;

FIG. 14 represents a fragmentary sectional side view of a cover andcontainer each having an outwardly extending fin with a reduced areaportion at its attaching point, said fins being heat sealed together toform hermetic seal of the contents in the container;

FIG. 15 represents a fragmentary sectional side view of the containerand cover of FIG. 14 with the tearaway seal portion separated andpartially disassociated from the container;

FIG. 16 represents a fragmentary sectional side view of the containerand cover of FIG. 15 with the tearaway seal portion removed and thecover pried from the outer bead or rim preparatory to removal from thecontainer;

FIG. 17 represents a fragmentary sectional view of the extending finportions just prior to their ultrasonicsealing, and

FIG. 18 represents the fragmentary sectional view of FIG. 17 after theultrasonic sealing has been accomplished.

In the following description and in the claims various details will beidentified by specific names for convenience; these names, however, areintended to be generic in thier application. Corresponding referencecharacters refer to like members throughout the several figures of thedrawings.

The drawings accompanying, and forming part of, this specificationdisclose certain details of construc- DESCRIPTION or THE EMBODIMENT ofFIGS. 1, 2 and 3 Referring now to the embodiment as seen in FIGS. 1, 2and 3 it is to be noted that the upper rim portion of a container has anouter rim or skirt portion 22 which joins a horizontal outer upper ring24 which at its inner diameter forms a ring-like sealing inner member 25having sharp corners 26 and 27. The outer periphery of ring 24terminates at an outwardly extending bead 28. Immediately below theinner member'25 there is a wall portion 29 which provides a clearance orrecess for the receipt of the cover. This wall 29 extends downwardly toa conically configured portion 30 which extends inwardly and downwardlyat a determined angle and distance until it joins the standard taperedportion 32 which forms the side wall of the container. This conicallyconfigured portion 30 of the upper side wall extends outwardly at anangle which is greater than the standard taper of the side wall 32. Theextending upward wall portion 29 of the container 20 carries thering-like portion 25 at a position in space which is outward of acontinuation of the inner surface of wall 22. This positioning ofportion 25 enables several containers 20 to be nested so that theinwardly directed member 25 of one does not engage the outer wall of anupper nested container.

A determined distance down from the upper rim 24 there is formed on theouter rim or skirt 2 a bead portion 34 which provides an upward facingshelf which provides a pry support for the removal of the cover by asequence to be hereinafter more fully described. Cover 38 is formed witha center disc portion 40 which terminates at adownwardly and outwardlydirected tapered portion 42 which at its lower point 44 is redirectedupwardly with a more or less semicircular portion to provide a U"-shapedconfiguration. The cover then extends upwardly and outwardly as wall 46to an enlarged outwardly directed lip portion 48. This lip is formedwith an outwardly, upwardly substantially sharp retaining edge 50 whichengages the underside of ring member 25' to form a seal when the coveris in a mounted condition.

Extending inwardly and upwardly from the retaining edge 50 is an arcuatereceiving groove 52 which terminates at an uper ring portion 54 of thecover 38. This upper ring is of a determined width to be hereinaftermore fully described. At the outer end of this upper ring 54 is an outerskirt 56 which is formed with a nesting groove 58 at the juncture of theskirt and ring. Immediately below this nesting groove 58 is an inwardlydirected cam portion 60 for a purpose to be hereinafter more fullydescribed. As seen in particular in FIG. 3 this cam portion 60 isV-shaped.

Referring now in particular to FIG. 2 it is to be noted that in aninitially mounted condition the cover 38 is placed within the open topof the container 20 and the.

' outer diameter of the retaining lip portion 48 is sized so as to justslide by the inner surface of the inwardly engaging retaining ringmember 25 formed atthe inner rim of container 20. The outer portion ofcover 38 is then pressed down so that the cam surface 60 on skirt 56engages the outer bead 28 of the container 20. The upper rim portion 54is then pressed downwardly so that the cam portion 60 slides down andover the head portion 28 toachieve the mounted condition of FIG. 1.

MOUNTING SEQUENCE EFFECT OF INSTALLING THE COVER 38 ON THE CONTAINER 20In the manufacture of the cover and the container the inner diameter ofthe inner square member 25 of the container 20 is at least no smaller indiameter than the outer diameter of the upper lip portion 48 of thecover 38. This fit is so that the cover may be readily brought to theinitial mounting condition of FIG. 2 and when the cover is being removedpermits easy removal.

Since the engaging outer lip 48 is no greater than the inner diameter ofthe ring-like member 25 the cover 38 is readily pressed downwardly intothe open top of the container 20 until the outer lip portionhas passedbelow the lower sharp edge 27 and the upper sharp edge 26 has beenbrought into engagement with the top of the cover portion 54 of thecover. The cam surface 60 is now caused to engage and be slid over theoutwardly extending bead 28. As this occurs the upper rim portion 54 ofthe cover is drawn outwardly and is stretched to provide a determinedtension between the outer bead engaging portion 28 and the upperring-like member 25. The ring-like member 54 of the cover in itsstretched condition causes the bead 28 to tightly seat in the receivinggroove 58. At this condition the edges 26 and 27 are caused to be forcedinto the arcuate groove 52 in cover 38 to provide a double engagementand a fluid-tight seal disposed to retain the fluid within the closedcontainer. An additional seal is, of course, provided at the tightengagement of bead 28 and receiving groove 58. Also it is to be notedthat where the taper of the wall 46 engages the change of angle in thecontainer wall portions 32 to 30, this portion of the cover engages thecontainer to provide an additional seal. I In its mounted condition asseenin FIG. 1 the V- portion of the cover attached to, and extendingoutside of, center disc 40 provides a spring or shock member forpressure against the cover so that any dropping of the container whichwould cause asudden influx of pressure against the center disc portion40 of the cover is absorbed by the spring provided by the inwardlydirected V-portion of the cover. It is also to be noted that in itsmounted condition as seen in FIG. 1 the lower edge of the skirt 56 is adetermined distance above the upper edge of the bead 34 which extendscompletely around the container. Using this space the outer skirt 56 maybe pried off the container by placing a screw driver, a coin or a bladedmember between the lower face of the skirt 56 of the covdr and the bead34. It is also to be noted that as depicted in FIG. 3 the outer walls 56of the covers are tapered. This taper not only assists in the removal ofthe cover from the mold in its initial molding or manufacturingoperation but also provides a shoulder or extending lip from an adjacentcover which permits engagement of the cover by separating means toenable the covers to be separated one from the other when stored in anested and stacked condition as in FIG. 3.

Referring now to FIGS. 4, and 6 it is to be noted that cover 38 is likeor identical to the cover 38 described in conjuction with FIGS. 1 and 3above. A container 61 has a side wall 62 similar to the side wall 32 ofthe container above. This side wall 62 joins an outwardly directedtapering portion 64 which is at a greater deflection angle. This wallterminates at an inward sealing ring 66 having upper and lower sharpcorners 68 and 69 which are similar to comers 26 and 27 shown incontainer 20 in FIG. 1. An outwardly and upwardly directed conicallyshaped rim portion 72 is attached to portion 64 and terminates at anouter bead 74. Attached to and extending downwardly from this bead is awall portion 76 which terminates at an outwardly directed rim supportportion 78 whose upper edge provides a shoulder for supporting a pryingmeans for lifting the cover from the container.

Referring now to FIG. 5 it is to be noted that the cover 38 has beenmoved into a semiclosed condition with bead 74 retained in the recess 58in cover 38. In this initially mounted condition of FIG. 5, theoutwardly directed ring portion 54 of the cover 38 and the innerdiameter of ring portion 66 of the container are more or less incoincidence. A cam surface 80 formed on the bottom portion of lip or rimportion 48 permits a downward push upon the inner portion of the cover38 to cause the lip portion 48 to pass by the inner surface of the ring66. As the cover is urged further downwardly the rim portion 48 is urgedoutwardly causing a stretched tension to be formed in the rim portion 54of the cover 38. This rim as it is stretched brings the lip portion 48into engagement with the shoulder 66 causing the sharp corners 68 and 69to engage the groove 52 causing the cover to effect a seal of the coverto the container. In its mounted condition the cover and container willappear as in FIG. 6 with the inner sharp corners 68 and 69 forming avery narrow compressive line of engagement with the arcuate groove 52formed in the cover and when in engagement provides a double ringsealing means.

CLOSING AND OPENING OF THE COVER 38 AND THE CONTAINER 61 In its closedcondition the cover 38 and the container 61 will appear as in FIG. 6with the sharp edges 68 and 69 being in a sealing condition with thegroove 52. The rim portion 54 of the cover 38 has been stretched to thedetermined extent which is the length of the tapered or conical portion72. To open the container, a screwdriver, coin or the like is caused tobe placed into the space between the cover outer flange 56 and theshoulder portion 78 of the container. The outer flange portion 56 ispried upwardly until dislodged from the outer bead 74 of the containerand is locally continued upwardly until the inner ring 66 may bedisengaged from the arcuate groove 52 to permit the cover to be removedto the condition as seen in FIG. 4. It is to be noted that the downwardslope of the portion 72 of the container establishes a self drainingmeans for directing the paint or the like into the container after thecontainer has been opened and is used as a paint bucket during and for apainting operation.

ALTERNATE EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 Referring next to FIGS. 7, 8and 9 it is to be noted that a container 88 is similar to or like thecontainer 20 seen in FIG. 1. The tapered side wall 32 of this containerterminates at an outwardly directed tapered portion 30 which extendsupwardly to the bead portion 25. The ring portion 24 is horizontal as inFIG. 1 and the outer bead 28 is similar to, if not identical to, thatseen in FIG. 1. Below bead portion 28 is formed a wall portion 90 whichjoins a larger diameter portion 92 which provides on its upper surface ashoulder disposed to assist in the lifting of a cover 94 from itsmounted condition on the container. This cover 94 has a mid or centraldisc portion 96 terminating in the V-shaped springlike outer portion 98which is similar to that in cover 38 seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The outerwall 100 of this V-shaped portion extends-upwardly to an outwardlydirected shoulder portion 102 which has its lower surface formed toprovide a cam. Immediately above this shoulder portion is formed anarcuate groove 104 which in all respects is similar to groove 52 seen inFIG. 3. An outwardly and downwardly directed conical shaped ring portion106 extends outwardly to an outer rim 108 which has an engaging lip 110formed on its inner surface. This lip 110 is disposed to fit underneathand snugly engage the bead 28 of the container 88.

In its initially inserted or mounted condition the cover 94 is placedupon the container rim so that it appears as in FIG. 8. In its initiallymounted condition the outer bead 28 is brought to a condition above lip110 on the cover after which the cover portion 106 is pressed downwardlyto cause the outwardly directed shoulder portion 102 and its cam surfaceto slide over the inwardly directed bead 25 so that the conical ringportion 106 is stretched a determined amount and bead 25 enters groove104 to cause the sharp edges 26 and 27 to engage the inner portions ofthe arcuate groove 104 to provide a double line seal as seenparticularly in FIG. 9.

USE OF THE EMBODIMENT OF FIGS.

7, 8 AND 9 Cover 94 as seen in this embodiment provides an arrangementwhich is opposite to that seen in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 in that instead ofthe container upper rim having a downward slope as in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6the cover 94 is sloped. The ring portion 106 of this cover 94 is formedconically so that in its free form it is outwardly and downwardly slopedto provide the same mounting action as found in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 butwith an opposite configuration. The cover 94 is placed in position asseen in FIG. 7 with the outer rim portion 108 arranged so that when thecover 94 is pushed downwardly the retaining lip l 10 is caused to beslid to and then below the outer bead 28 of the container 88. In thismanner the cover is positioned on the container by engagement at itsouter edge. This condition of the cover 94 and the container 88 is shownin FIG. 8. When in this position the upper rim 106 is then engaged sothat the central portion 96 of the cover may be urged downwardlywhereupon the cam surface portion provided on the under portion of theouter shoulder portion 102 is caused to engage the inner bead 25. As thecover and ring portion 106 are pressed further downwardly, the member102 is caused to slide to and past the inwardly extending ring member 25to bring the groove 104 into a nesting and seating arrangement on thering member 25. A rolling action on the cover is usually utilized tocause the sealing or mounting operation of the cover to the mouth ofthe'container to be achieved so that when finally seated the cover andcontainer are nested as in FIG. 9. Ring member 25 is seated in groove104 so that the sharp edges 26 and 27 of ring 25 engage the arcuateshaped groove 104 to form two localized ring seals within this groove.The ring portion 106 of the cover is stretched as is portion 54 in thecover of FIGS. 1 and 3. This stretching causes a tension to be developedin the ring portion 106 and insures a seating retension to be developedwith the outer head 28 tightly nested in the recess 108 while ringmember 25 is engaged by the arcuate recess 104 at its upper and lowerpositions.

To remove the cover 94 from container 88, there is required a pryingmeans such as by a screwdriver or coin not shown, which means is causedto enter the slot between the flange 108 of the cover and the protrudingring or rim portion 92 of the container 88 so that by urging the coverupwardly in a localized area the lip 110 is moved over the bead 28 whichreleases the cover in a localized area after which progressively thecover is lifted from the container. After the outer rim of the cover isreleased, the ring 25 is disengaged so that the cover may be lifted orremoved as in the case of the cover and container of FIGS. 1 and 3.

EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. -13

Referring next to the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 10-13 there isdepicted a container and cover which are substantially identical to thearrangement as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. In this embodiment, however,the container, instead of havinga single inner ring member, formed as asolid member has instead a bifurcated ring member having an upperportion 120 molded so as to extend inwardly with a- V-shape terminatingwith a sharp protruding edge as particularly seen in FIG. 11. The lowerportion of this ring is identified as 122 and is more or less theremainder of ring 25 and is conventionally shaped as seen in FIG. 1 withthe exception of the V-shaped groove 123 between portions 120 and 122.This groove provides a V-shaped spring means between the upper and lowerportions of this sealing ring. The spring action occurs when the upperportion 120 and the lower portion 122 are urged toward each other whenthe cover is mounted to the upper rim of the container.

Referring still to the embodiment of FIGS. 10-13 it is noted that thecontainer is conventionally shaped as in FIG. 1 in which the side wall32 has a normal taper until it reaches the upper conical portion whichis similar to that seen in FIG. 1. The intermediate rim portion 24instead of having an inner lip portion 25 is depicted as in theconfiguration of FIG. 11 abovedescribed in which the upper portion 120which is sharply shaped and attached to the rim portion 24 tapersinwardly to a sharp or a nearly sharp edge and in its molded conditionthe inner edge is more or less planer or lies generally in the sameplane as the top surface of the rim portion 24. Slightly outward fromthe protruding inner edge of triangular portion 120 is the inner surfaceof the ring portion 122. This ring portion has a sharp lower edgeportion 124 which is contemplated to engage the arcuate groove 52 formedin the cover 38 of FIGS. 1 and 10. The outer bead 28 of the rim of thiscontainer 20 is formed as in FIG. 1 as is the protruding pry-rim 34 onthe skirt 22 of the container.-ln all other respects the container 20and the cover 38 are formed as in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 as above-described.

ASSEMBLY AND USE OF CONTAINER AND COVER OF FIGS. 10-13 Reference is nowmade to FIG. 12 wherein the cover is depicted as having been initiallypushed into the open top of the container 20. In this inserted conditionthe outwardly extending upper lip portion 48 of the cover 38 is causedto be pushed below the bifurcated inner engaging rim portions and 122.This is contemplated to be a slide fit and after being placed in thisposition the outward portion of the cover 38 is pressed downwardly sothat the cam portion of lip 59 engages and slides over the outer bead 28until bad 28 enters the groove 58 of the cover. A rolling, pressingaction around the outer rim of the cover is then continued until allportions of the cover are downwardly moved so that head 28 is caused tofully enter the groove 58. When the cover is mounted the midportion 54of the cover is stretched as in FIGS. 10 and 13 and when mounted theupper sharp edge 120 is forced inwardly and downwardly against thecurved recess of groove 52 and at the same time the lower sharpened edgeof 124 of portion 122 engages the lower portion of the arcuate groove 52so as to be pressed into this groove wall and form a single lineengaging seal. In its mounted condition the sharpened edge portion 122is pressed inwardly and downwardly and the edge portion 122 is urgedupwardly by the lower curved portion of groove 52 causing a springaction to be provided by deforming or slightly closing the V-shape inthe bifurcated ring member. This thrusting engagement causes lipportions 120 and 122 to be slightly compressed and provides two linearengaging sealing means in the tightly engaged arcuate groove.

To remove the cover 38 from this container the sequence as used in FIGS.1, 2 and 3, above-described, is employed. In this sequence a pry meansor apparatus is placed between the outer skirt 56 and the support shelf34, after which the cover is pried upward by this pry means to achievethe condition of FIG. 12, after which the cover 38 may be readilyremoved. In its released condition the lip portion 48 moves inwardly toits initially formed diameter which permits it to readily slide by theinwardly directed edge portions 120 and 122.

EMBODIMENT OF FIGS 14 THROUGH 18 Referring finally to the embodiment ofFIGS. 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 there is depicted a container and coverwherein after the container is filled and the cover is installed thecontents of the container may be hermetically sealed. For example, thecontainer and cover of FIG. 10 may be modified to include a tear-awayretaining means. As depicted in FIG. 14 a cover 138 is similar in allrespects to cover 38 except that to the outer skirt 56 of that coverthere is added to cover 138 an outwardly extending fin 150. For acontainer having a 1- gallon capacity this fin may be about onethirty-second of an inchin thickness and about five-sixteenths of aninch in width. Where this fin joins the flange there is formed a reducedsection 152 which is about eight thousandths of an inch in thickness andabout ten thousandths of an inch in width.

On a container 156 which is substantially identical to the container 20of FIG. except for the addition of an additional sealing means there isadded to the bead 34 a lower fin 160 which is contemplated to besubstantially the same width and thickness as the upper fin 150. Thisfin 160 is attached to bead 34 with a reduced section 162 which also isabout eight by ten thousandths of an inch In its initially formedcondition a small downwardly extending V-shaped sealing assist 164,which may be one thirty-second of an inch at its base and extenddownwardly a matter of five thousandths of an inch or so, is formed ashort distance in from the outer edge of fin 150. This sealing assist isparticularly seen in the fragmentary sectional view of FIG. 17.

When the container has been filled and the cover inserted, the lower fin160 is contiguous with upper fin 150 and is supported on a portion of anultrasonic sealing apparatus of conventional design and use. The upperportion of the sealing apparatus engages the fin 150 so that theV-shaped assist 164 is joined to the lower fin 160 at the areacorresponding to the assist 164. This joined area is best depicted inFIG. 18.

After purchase by the customer this hermetically sealed container ofFIG. 14 may be opened by grasping the sealed fins 150 and 160 at atransversely scored portion, not shown, so as to permit the protrudingfins to be separated on a more or less radial line. After thisseparation, the assembled fin which, for convenience is identified as170, is pulled from the cover and container with the weakened areas 152and 162 permitting separation as seen in FIG. 15. After the assembledfin, 170 has been removed and discarded, the container is opened by apry action as in FIG. 1 with the released cover appearing as in FIG. 16.At this stage the container and cover are substantially like that inFIGS. 10-12. Reclosing is as described in FIGS. 10-12 above.

OPERATION AND USE OF THE CONTAINERS AND COVERS AS SEEN IN THE ABOVE FIVEEMBODIMENTS In all of the above-shown and-described embodiments thecovers are depicted as having a V-portion which permits the cover tohave a certain amount of resilience or spring to accommodate suddenforces exerted on its inner portion. This V-shaped spring means preventsthe dislodgment of the tensioned ring portion from the top of thecontainer and the sharp inwardly extending engaging lip is retained ingrooves 52 or 104. In all cases it is contemplated that the inner rim ofthe container as members 25, 66 and 120 has its diameter as great orgreater than the corresponding outer diameter of the shoulder portions48, 66, and 102 of the cover when in an unmounted condition. Forexample, shoulder 48 in FIG. 2 is a slip fit with inner member 25. Inits mounted condition the ring-like member 54 or 106 of the cover isstretched a determined amount to insure that accidental dislodgment ofthe cover does not occur with the dropping of the container filled withpaint or the like from a height such as 3 or 4 feet. It is also to benoted that the upper receiving groove in the outer flange of the coveris a determined extent lesser in diameter than the mating protrudinghead on the container. The space below the mounted covers outer skirtand rim bead of the container provide a pry space for apparatus such asa screwdriver or a coin which is manipulated to cause the cover to belocally dislodged, after which the continued pry action around theoutside of the container establishes a separation of the cover from thecontainer. In all the embodiments a sharp upper and lower edge isprovided on the inwardly extending retaining ring or lip of thecontainer. The stretched ring-like portions 54 and 106 of the cover inits mounted condition insures that these sharp edges engage the arcuatesurface 52 to provide a double seal. The sharp edges of this ring, asthey are urged to and into a comparatively smooth surface, cause thesharp edges to be deformed slightly to provide a ring-like narrow widthpressure tight seal. In all cases the underside of the upper outwardlydirected lip portions 48 and 102 of the cover are contoured so as to becammed downwardly over the inwardly extending bead of the container.This cam assist is usually unnecessary since these lips of the cover andthe engaging lip of the container are sized so that in a relaxedcondition they are substantially in coincidence or there is a smallamount of clearance to permit the cover lip to pass the lip of thecontainer.

As reduced to practice it has been found that material for the cover andthe container is preferably of a high density or oriented polypropyleneor polyethylene which provides a substantial rigidity to both the coverand container. This material is of a thickness which permits a smallamount of stretching of the cover to occur to cause the tensioned sealto be affected and maintained. Such a cover is contrary to thecovernormally provided for containers such as Tupperware (TM) wherebythe cover is made of a very resilient or very flexible plastic enablingthese covers to be rolled or snapped on to the top of the container.This situation is not found in the containers or covers as shown anddescribed above.

In all cases it is contemplated that the upper rim of the container willbe formed with or without reinforcing rib portions so that this rim,with or without a mounted cover, will retain its moulded size. Thecovers, however, are constructed so as to be able to be stretched toprovide the desired tension to the engaging portions of the mountedcover to the container.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 it is contemplated that analternate cover may be molded so that in its free condition the ringportion 54 is sloped to the same or nearly the same degree as theconically shaped rim portion 72 of the container. Such a cover wouldappear with a configuration as is shown in FIG. 6. In a like manner therim portion 24 of the container 88 of FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 may bealternately formed with an upward and inward slope which conforms to theslope of the cover 94 as seen in FIG. 7. Figures depicting thesealternate constructions as herewith noted have not been provided as suchis not believed necessary. These alternate configurations of the coverand container are believed sufficiently identified and described byreference to the suggested alternate configurations of the cover andcontainer as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The above description has suggested sizes and thicknesses which havebeen primarily and satisfactorily used for l-gallon containers.Containers for 1 quart, 2 quarts, 2 gallons, 2% gallons and 5 gallonsare also quite common and with these different sizes and others notnoted the sizes and thickness of the plastic molded components arechanged as required. In all cases the inner and outer retaining ringportions (i.e., 25 and 28 of FIG. 1) of the Container will be largerthan the mating portions of the cover in its relaxed condition. Theoutwardly directed ring (i.e., 48 of FIG. 1) of the relaxed cover is aslide or slip fit with the ring portion (25) of. the container to insureeasy mounting and removal. This concept is carried to the othercontainer and cover combinations for the other size containers.

Terms such as left, right, up, down, bottorn, top, front, back, in, out,and the like are applicable to the embodiments shown and described inconjunction with the drawing. These terms are merely for the purposes ofdescription and do not necessarily apply to the position in which thecontainer and plugtype cover may be constructed or used.

While particular embodiments of the container and cover have been shownand described it is to be understood the invention is not limited tothese particular embodiments since modifications may be made within thescope of the accompanying claims and protection is sought to thebroadest extent the prior art allows.

What is claimed is:

1. A plastic container and a mating plug type cover which'is disposed tobe mounted in an open top of the container to retain a contained fluidand the like in a fluid tight, sealed condition, said container andcover in combination including: (a) a container having an open topformed with an outwardly extending rim, said container having anupwardly and outwardly tapered upper inner wall portion terminating atan inwardly directed bead at the upper inner edge of the rim, said beadhaving upper and lower substantially sharp edges and with a determineddiameter of close tolerance; (b) a ring-like portion extending outwardlyfrom the inner bead and forming the upper surface of the rim andterminating at an outwardly extending upper bead; (c) an annular outer,wall-like, flange integrally. attached to the outer edge of thering-like portion of said rim, said flange of a lesser diameter than theoutwardly extending bead and extending downwardly from said ring-likeportion, said flange having at a determined distance below said upperbead a lower outwardly extending shelf means providing an upwardlyfacing support means; (d) a cover of plastic material having adetermined elastic property and having a recessed inner portion whoseouter face is a conical configuration sized so as to nest within andengage the outwardly tapered upper inner wall portion of the containeropening; (e) an inner receiving groove formed at the upper extent ofsaid conical configuration and next to a planar, ringlike portionextending outwardly and forming the top portion of the cover, saidgroove disposed to engage and retain the upper and lower sharp edges ofthe inwardly directed bead of the container rim when the cover is in amounted condition, the lower portion of said groove terminating at anoutwardly directed lip whose outer diameter with the cover in anunmounted condition is not greater than the diameter of the inwardlydirected bead of the container, and (f) a downwardly extending outerskirt, integrally connected to the outer extent of said planar portionof the cover and at this juncturehaving a nesting groove disposed tosnugly engage the outwardly extending upper bead of the container rim,said skirt having an inwardly di rected cam portion forming the lowerportion of said nesting groove, the annular skirt sized so that itsinner surface will snugly engage the annular flange of the rim of thecontainer and as the cam portion is moved to and past the upperoutwardly bead and the bead is engaged said planar cover is outwardlydisplaced to provide a tensioned condition in the planar member and tomaintain the inner bead of the container rim in the cover groove duringthe time the outer annular skirt of the cover is in snug engagement withthe annular flange of the container rim and the upper outer bead of thecontainer is retained in the outer nesting groove in the cover and withthe lower edge of the skirt of the cover in its mounted conditionpositioned from the shelf means on the container flange so as to providea space therebetween sumcient for the insertion of a pry means by whichthe cover may be locally pried from the container rim.

2. A container and cover as in claim 1 in which the inner receivinggroove formed in the cover is arcuate in configuration and in which theoutwardly directed lip forming the lower portion of the groove has itslower portion formed with a taper to provide a cam means adapted toassist the entering of this cover lip portion into the central portionof the container and below the inner bead forming the upper inner edgeof the container open top.

3. A container and cover as in claim 2 in which the outwardly extendingupper rim of the container lies in a common plane as does the planarring-like portion forming the top portion of the cover.

4. A container and cover as in claim 1 in which the outwardly extendingupper rim of the container is conically shaped with the rim taperinginwardly and toward the bottom of the container while the planarring-like portion forming the top portion of the cover lies in a commonplane. v

5. A container and cover as in claim 1 in which the outwardly extendingupper rim of the container is conically shaped with the rim taperinginwardly and toward the bottom of the container and with the planarringlike portion of the cover tapered in a substantially like.

degree and manner.

6. A container and cover as in claim 1 in which the outwardly extendingupper rim of the container lies in a common plane while the mating coverhas its planar ring-like portion formed in a conical configuration whichslopes outwardly and downwardly from its axis.

7. A container and cover as in claim 1 in which the outwardly extendingupper rim of the container is conically shaped with the rim taperingoutwardly and downwardly toward the bottom of the container while themating cover has its planar ring-like portion formed with asubstantially like conical configuration which also slopes outwardly anddownwardly.

8. A container and cover as in claim 1 in which the inner receivinggroove formed in the cover is arcuate in configuration and in which theinwardly directed bead in the container which engages and seats in thisgroove is bifurcated to provide an upper V-shaped member whose wedgeshape provides a thin inner edge while the lower portion provides asharp engaging edge, the bifurcated construction providing a springmeans to pemiit the upper and lower edges to tightly seat in the arcuategroove.

9. A container and cover as in claim 8 in which the upper sharp edgemember extends inwardly a small amount more than the lower rim portionwhich is more substantial and with the bead in its mounted condition theupper sharp edge forms a sealed edge which is forced inwardly anddownwardly in the groove and toward the lower rim portion.

10. A container and cover as in claim 1 in which the cover is formedwith an attached outwardly extending fin secured to the outer skirt ofthe cover by means of a reduced section to provide a tearawayattachment, and in which the container is formed with an attached likefin secured to the outer flange of the container by means of a reducedsection to provide a tear-away attachment, the fins of the cover andcontainer disposed to lay adjacent each other, the fins disposed to besealed together to provide a hermetic tearaway sealed I fin is formedwith a small V-shaped sealing assist extending upwardly from a sealingsurface adjacent the other fin said assist being useful in ultrasonicsealing.

12. A container and cover as in claim 1 in which the outer skirt of thecover is made with a taper so that the lower edge of the skirt extendsoutwardly of the upper edge so that with the covers in a stackedcondition one cover may be readily separated from the stack by edgeengaging means.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.H'3;817420 v Dated June 18; Il974 Raymond A. Heisler Inventor(s) It iscerrified that error appears in the above-idehtified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

a On the Cover sheet insert The portioh of the term of this patentsubsequent to Jan. 1, 1990, has been disclaimed.

Signed and sealed this 31st day of December 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

mccoy 2-1; GIBSON JR; 0. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents FORM PO-1050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC 50376-1 69 US GOVERNMENY PRINTINGOFFICE: 93

1. A plastic container and a mating plug type cover which is disposed tobe mounted in an open top of the container to retain a contained fluidand the like in a fluid tight, sealed condition, said container andcover in combination including: (a) a container having an open topformed with an outwardly extending rim, said container having anupwardly and outwardly tapered upper inner wall portion terminating atan inwardly directed bead at the upper inner edge of the rim, said beadhaving upper and lower substantially sharp edges and with a determinedDiameter of close tolerance; (b) a ring-like portion extending outwardlyfrom the inner bead and forming the upper surface of the rim andterminating at an outwardly extending upper bead; (c) an annular outer,wall-like, flange integrally attached to the outer edge of the ring-likeportion of said rim, said flange of a lesser diameter than the outwardlyextending bead and extending downwardly from said ring-like portion,said flange having at a determined distance below said upper bead alower outwardly extending shelf means providing an upwardly facingsupport means; (d) a cover of plastic material having a determinedelastic property and having a recessed inner portion whose outer face isa conical configuration sized so as to nest within and engage theoutwardly tapered upper inner wall portion of the container opening; (e)an inner receiving groove formed at the upper extent of said conicalconfiguration and next to a planar, ring-like portion extendingoutwardly and forming the top portion of the cover, said groove disposedto engage and retain the upper and lower sharp edges of the inwardlydirected bead of the container rim when the cover is in a mountedcondition, the lower portion of said groove terminating at an outwardlydirected lip whose outer diameter with the cover in an unmountedcondition is not greater than the diameter of the inwardly directed beadof the container, and (f) a downwardly extending outer skirt, integrallyconnected to the outer extent of said planar portion of the cover and atthis juncture having a nesting groove disposed to snugly engage theoutwardly extending upper bead of the container rim, said skirt havingan inwardly directed cam portion forming the lower portion of saidnesting groove, the annular skirt sized so that its inner surface willsnugly engage the annular flange of the rim of the container and as thecam portion is moved to and past the upper outwardly bead and the beadis engaged said planar cover is outwardly displaced to provide atensioned condition in the planar member and to maintain the inner beadof the container rim in the cover groove during the time the outerannular skirt of the cover is in snug engagement with the annular flangeof the container rim and the upper outer bead of the container isretained in the outer nesting groove in the cover and with the loweredge of the skirt of the cover in its mounted condition positioned fromthe shelf means on the container flange so as to provide a spacetherebetween sufficient for the insertion of a pry means by which thecover may be locally pried from the container rim.
 2. A container andcover as in claim 1 in which the inner receiving groove formed in thecover is arcuate in configuration and in which the outwardly directedlip forming the lower portion of the groove has its lower portion formedwith a taper to provide a cam means adapted to assist the entering ofthis cover lip portion into the central portion of the container andbelow the inner bead forming the upper inner edge of the container opentop.
 3. A container and cover as in claim 2 in which the outwardlyextending upper rim of the container lies in a common plane as does theplanar ring-like portion forming the top portion of the cover.
 4. Acontainer and cover as in claim 1 in which the outwardly extending upperrim of the container is conically shaped with the rim tapering inwardlyand toward the bottom of the container while the planar ring-likeportion forming the top portion of the cover lies in a common plane. 5.A container and cover as in claim 1 in which the outwardly extendingupper rim of the container is conically shaped with the rim taperinginwardly and toward the bottom of the container and with the planarring-like portion of the cover tapered in a substantially like degreeand manner.
 6. A container and cover as in claim 1 in which theoutwardly extending upper rim of the container lies in a common planewhile the mating cover has its planar ring-like portion formed in aconiCal configuration which slopes outwardly and downwardly from itsaxis.
 7. A container and cover as in claim 1 in which the outwardlyextending upper rim of the container is conically shaped with the rimtapering outwardly and downwardly toward the bottom of the containerwhile the mating cover has its planar ring-like portion formed with asubstantially like conical configuration which also slopes outwardly anddownwardly.
 8. A container and cover as in claim 1 in which the innerreceiving groove formed in the cover is arcuate in configuration and inwhich the inwardly directed bead in the container which engages andseats in this groove is bifurcated to provide an upper V-shaped memberwhose wedge shape provides a thin inner edge while the lower portionprovides a sharp engaging edge, the bifurcated construction providing aspring means to permit the upper and lower edges to tightly seat in thearcuate groove.
 9. A container and cover as in claim 8 in which theupper sharp edge member extends inwardly a small amount more than thelower rim portion which is more substantial and with the bead in itsmounted condition the upper sharp edge forms a sealed edge which isforced inwardly and downwardly in the groove and toward the lower rimportion.
 10. A container and cover as in claim 1 in which the cover isformed with an attached outwardly extending fin secured to the outerskirt of the cover by means of a reduced section to provide a tearawayattachment, and in which the container is formed with an attached likefin secured to the outer flange of the container by means of a reducedsection to provide a tear-away attachment, the fins of the cover andcontainer disposed to lay adjacent each other, the fins disposed to besealed together to provide a hermetic tearaway sealed unit.
 11. Acontainer and cover as in claim 10 in which one fin is formed with asmall V-shaped sealing assist extending upwardly from a sealing surfaceadjacent the other fin said assist being useful in ultrasonic sealing.12. A container and cover as in claim 1 in which the outer skirt of thecover is made with a taper so that the lower edge of the skirt extendsoutwardly of the upper edge so that with the covers in a stackedcondition one cover may be readily separated from the stack by edgeengaging means.